SR 7211 - Continued Collapse

The collapse of loggerhead nest SR 7211 continued last night and there were sporatic sounds of mass digging until the time I left around 3 a.m.  They will probably emerge tonight!  Our new volunteer, Krista Morgan remained to monitor this and other nests until at least 4:30 a.m., when Patroller Melanie Waite arrived.

The photo above was taken with my cell phone last night, using a red-filtered head lamp for illumination.  I did not remove the screen, but you can still see how the nest has collapsed and the rather bizarre column of sand which remains standing in the center. 

The column of sand is probably an inch lower than the surface, but the drop all around it is about 5" - 6" deep.  I've never seen a collapse quite like it before, but that's becoming a familiar refrain this year.

These little turts better come out tonight!  We're tired of playing hide and seek!  Time for them to get in the Gulf!